The Gemini 8 Flight Journal
Gemini 8
Part 20: Reentry and landing
Corrected Transcript and Commentary Copyright © 2025 by Tracy L. Scott and W. David Woods. All rights reserved.
Last updated 2025-09-09
To recap again, we have fired all four retros. They fired successfully and the tape of that very brief conversation which lasted less than 30 seconds is now being replayed to insure that everything was proper, and after hearing it a second time, we are quite satisfied everything was quite proper. This is Gemini Control, Houston.
010:06:35 Armstrong: Okay. Now I want to set up my clock.
010:06:38 Armstrong: Did the GET clock start?
010:06:40 Armstrong: Okay.
010:06:42 Scott: You ready for the Post-Retro Check List?
010:06:45 Armstrong: Yes.
010:06:47 Scott: Okay. Retro-Power, Safe.
010:06:50 Armstrong: Retro-Power, Safe.
010:06:51 Scott: Retro-Jett, Safe.
010:06:52 Armstrong: Safe.
010:06:53 Scott: Retro-Rocket Squibs, Safe.
010:06:54 Armstrong: Off 2, 3, 4, Safe.
010:06:59 Scott: FDR, Comp.
010:07:02 Armstrong: Roger. FDR, Comp.
010:07:03 Scott: FDM, Rate.
010:07:04 Armstrong: Rate.
010:07:05 Scott: FDI Scale Range, Lo.
010:07:08 Scott: Attitude Control, Pulse.
010:07:11 Armstrong: We are in Pulse, 1 ring.
010:07:13 Scott: Boost Insert Control 1 and 2 circuit breaker, Open.
010:07:16 Armstrong: Boost Insert 1 and 2 are Open.
010:07:17 Scott: Retro Sequence Control 1 and 2 circuit breakers, Open.
010:07:21 Armstrong: Retro Sequence 1 and 2 are Open.
010:07:24 Scott: RCS B Attitude Control Power, Off. Got it on to System A.
010:07:28 Scott: Scanner, off.
010:07:33 Armstrong: Roger. Scanner off.
010:07:40 Scott: Tighten and lock restraint harness.
010:07:46 Armstrong: Restraint harness did not lock.
010:07:47 Armstrong: Okay. It is, but I'm going to have to loosen it to pull the pins.
010:07:52 Armstrong: Let's go.
010:08:02 Scott: [Garble]. Ring [garble].
010:08:07 Armstrong: Okay. You get yours first. Let's get this one at a time.
010:08:14 Scott: I'll get mine.
010:08:26 Armstrong: Got yours on?
010:08:28 Scott: Yes. One more minute.
010:08:30 Armstrong: Okay. I'm going to get mine on now.
010:08:35 Scott: Okay. I'll just tighten along my side [garble].
010:08:45 Armstrong: You got them stowed?
010:08:48 Scott: No, I haven't got this one little [garble] stowed.
010:08:55 Armstrong: I guess I ought to go ahead.
010:08:59 Scott: It's hard to see.
010:09:00 Armstrong: Pri O
2 Heater circuit breaker, Open.
010:09:07 Scott: There's sunlight.
010:09:12 Armstrong: Look at the stuff out the right window!
010:09:14 Scott: Pretty! Whoa, boy! OAMS Control Prop circuit breaker, Open.
010:09:23 Scott: Calib circuit breaker, Open. Tape Recorder Control, Open.
010:09:31 Scott: ECS O
2 Heater, Off.
010:09:33 Scott: Fuel Cell O
2 and H
2 Heater is off.
010:09:36 Scott: Section 1 and 2 Power is off.
010:09:43 Scott: 1A, 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B, 2C - Off.
010:09:45 Scott: FDM, Rate.
010:09:49 Scott: SPF - OFF.
010:09:52 Armstrong: [Garble] Harness [garble] valves [garble].
010:10:09 Armstrong: Control spacecraft attitude to: 180 yaw, 170 roll.
010:10:16 Scott: Horizon at the top of the window.
010:10:19 Armstrong: That's right. Try it again.
010:10:23 Scott: [Garble]. Next step is 400K.
010:10:50 Armstrong: And it's a long time yet.
010:10:54 Armstrong: Give me a time if you can.
010:10:57 Scott: Okay. I might be a couple of seconds off, but it will be close.
010:11:02 Armstrong: That's all right.
010:11:04 Scott: I'll give you - can you check 630?
010:11:07 Armstrong: Check.
010:11:09 Scott: Okay. It checks.
010:11:14 Scott: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...
010:11:28 Armstrong: Fantastic! Almost perfect!
010:11:35 Scott: Correct.
010:11:40 Armstrong: All this stuff floating.
010:11:43 Armstrong: Okay. 400K is T
R plus 22.
010:12:28 Armstrong: B-Ring ran out about 1,300 pounds.
010:12:29 Armstrong: Say again?
010:12:30 Armstrong: B-Ring ran out about 1,300 pounds.
010:12:35 Scott: Think so.
010:12:38 Armstrong: [Garble] still rising.
1966-03-16, 9:01 pm This is Gemini Control, Houston, 10 hours, 20 minutes into the flight. We've had of course, no contact with the spacecraft since retrofire. However, we assume that splash will occur about 22 minutes from now. Something just under 22 minutes from now. The computer is driving our display showing the descent of the spacecraft, based on the retro values we were given by Neil Armstrong by the Kano site and it presently shows an altitude of approximately 100 miles. We want to emphasize again that communications are going to be marginal, at best, in this area, we hope perhaps to get some UHF regular radio contact in the area by the Coastal Sentry Quebec? We are certain that the C-54 planes in the area as well as the HU-16 will make every effort to contact their bases in Naha or in Yokusuka. And for the moment like everyone else, we're standing by and waiting out this last 20 minutes. This is Gemini Control, Houston.
010:24:45 Armstrong: I keep thinking there's something we've forgotten about, but I don't know what it is.
010:24:54 Scott: We've done everything, as far as I know.
010:24:57 Armstrong: Roger.
010:25:35 Scott: Say again.
010:25:36 Armstrong: We're having quite a bit of glare around here.
010:25:59 Armstrong: Say, I must do a good job at this so that we land close to where the Rescue [garble] how about that?
010:26:02 Scott: I'm with you.
010:26:40 Armstrong: Nominal pitch angle here.
010:26:45 Scott: What is it?
010:26:47 Armstrong: I said it was nominal.
010:26:54 Armstrong: I got the needle right at 45. [Garble].
010:27:09 Armstrong: Say, are you in Attitude?
010:27:11 Scott: Yes. I'll stay on Rate for a little while and count [garble].
010:27:16 Armstrong: Okay.
010:27:24 Armstrong: Don't yaw too much now.
010:27:38 Armstrong: 52 left.
010:27:45 Scott: Yaw keep right.
010:28:11 Armstrong: That's 52. 52 should be [garble] right. 52 should be [garble].
010:28:26 Armstrong: That must be [garble] light. It's 55 plus or minus 3.
010:28:44 Scott: Let's hope.
010:29:02 Scott: Got 1 minute to Guidance.
010:29:08 Armstrong: How's it look to you?
010:29:40 Armstrong: The Adapter's burning off to the left. I can watch it.
010:29:43 Scott: Can you, really?
010:29:45 Armstrong: Yes. Got [garble]. See it? It's turning green.
010:29:54 Scott: Okay. Should be [garble] very shortly. There it goes! Got it?
010:30:06 Armstrong: Pretty reasonable already for a starter.
010:30:10 Armstrong: Supposed to be 77 plus or minus 50.
010:30:13 Armstrong: Let it ride for about 30 seconds here.
010:30:15 Armstrong: Now we're getting a little light out the window.
010:30:18 Armstrong: I'm going to Reentry Rate Command.
010:30:23 Armstrong: Keep an eye on that pressure.
010:30:28 Scott: You figure it will die out at what?
010:30:30 Armstrong: Yes.
010:30:34 Armstrong: There's 30 seconds of Guidance.
010:30:36 Armstrong: Looks to be nice and steady, doesn't it?
010:30:39 Scott: Yes, it does.
010:30:40 Armstrong: Would you buy that?
010:30:45 Scott: Yes, I'll buy that coming in.
010:30:57 Scott: We've got almost a minute of Guidance.
010:31:04 Armstrong: Okay. I'm going over and picking up the [garble].
010:31:21 Armstrong: Got [garble]. Darn the seat [garble].
010:31:23 Armstrong: Foot in stirrups.
010:31:30 Scott: Way to go:
010:31:31 CSQ CC: Gemini VIII, CapCom on UHF. Over.
010:31:33 Armstrong: Something out the window, isn't it?
010:31:35 Scott: Yes. [Garble].
010:31:36 CSQ CC: Gemini VIII, CSQ CapCom. Do you read? Over.
010:31:40 Armstrong: End of blackout is 30 minutes.
010:31:47 Armstrong: [Garble] your turn.
010:31:49 Scott: Yes. It's probably [garble].
010:31:51 Armstrong: Say again.
010:31:54 Scott: You'll have to tell me the altitudes because I can't see.
010:31:59 CSQ CC: Gemini VIII, CSQ CapCom on HF. Do you read? Over.
010:32:21 Scott: Pitch look good?
010:32:24 Armstrong: Your limits?
010:32:30 CSQ CC: Gemini VIII, CSQ CapCom on UHF. Do you read? Over.
010:33:04 CSQ CC: Gemini VIII, Gemini VIII, CSQ CapCom on UHF. Do you read? Over.
010:33:23 Armstrong: I can't get a Reentry Rate [garble].
010:33:40 Scott: Okay. [Garble]. Looks pretty good here [garble].
010:33:45 Armstrong: Keep an eye on that pressure system. We've got a certain amount of fuel.
010:33:51 Scott: Okay. Tell me when you want me to call him.
010:33:54 CSQ CC: Gemini VIII, Gemini VIII, CSQ CapCom on UHF. Do you read? Over.
010:33:58 Armstrong: Okay. Let's put the B-Ring on now [garble].
010:34:04 Scott: You did get it.
010:34:15 Armstrong: [Garble] is off.
010:34:25 Armstrong: About [garble].
010:34:34 Armstrong: About 5g.
010:34:37 Scott: Okay. About 30 seconds to 100K.
010:35:21 Armstrong: It's coming down now.
010:35:24 Scott: It should be behind me.
010:35:50 Armstrong: Is the altimeter working?
010:35:53 Armstrong: Coming down in Pitch.
010:35:55 Scott: Pardon me.
010:35:58 Armstrong: Don't forget [garble].
010:36:02 Scott: Right. Landing - Arm, 70K feet.
010:36:09 Armstrong: Okay.
010:36:28 Armstrong: Okay. 50K. Ready for the drogue.
010:36:38 Armstrong: We have a good Drogue.
010:36:42 Scott: Yes. Okay. Let's go to Rate Command.
010:36:48 Armstrong: Okay. 30K.
010:37:02 Armstrong: Okay. You can turn to O
2 Hi Rate.
010:37:09 Armstrong: You can [garble] down any time now.
010:37:11 Scott: [Garble] reads.
010:37:14 Armstrong: Okay. Hand releases [garble].
010:37:19 Scott: [Garble.]
010:37:21 Armstrong: Got a 40K light.
010:37:33 Scott: Okay. What's that? About 20K?
010:37:40 Armstrong: Houston, Gemini reads 86, 02505; 87, 13609; good drogue.
010:37:59 Scott: They all look real good.
010:38:03 Armstrong: 10K.
010:38:04 Armstrong: Parachute ready?
010:38:06 Armstrong: Here we go!
010:38:16 Armstrong: We're off! We're off!
010:38:17 Scott: Oh, heck!
010:38:18 Armstrong: They got her!
010:38:19 Scott: Good show!
010:38:20 Armstrong: Popped my nose.
010:38:21 Scott: Should I open my helmet?
010:38:23 Armstrong: Can you see?
010:38:28 Scott: Can I open mY helmet, Coach?
010:38:29 Armstrong: Okay...
010:38:30 Scott: Chief, I've got to open my helmet.
010:38:31 Armstrong: Okay. Let's get ready for Landing Attitude.
010:38:35 Armstrong: Get your thrusters first.
010:38:38 Scott: RCS A and B Prop Motor Valves - Closed.
010:38:40 Armstrong: Yes.
010:38:42 Scott: With thrusters.
010:38:45 Armstrong: They're all out.
010:38:47 Scott: Go ahead.
010:38:49 Armstrong: Okay. Ready?
010:38:52 Armstrong: Very good.
010:38:54 Scott: Not too bad.
010:38:59 Armstrong: Okay. We're at 5K.
010:39:02 Scott: Okay. You want to check the water?
010:39:11 Armstrong: Boy! It stinks!
010:39:14 Armstrong: Inside the cockpit.
010:39:17 Scott: It's what?
010:39:20 Armstrong: A lot of fumes in the cockpit.
010:39:22 Scott: Yes. Okay.
010:39:23 Scott: Okay. We've got the main chute out. It's dereefed; we have the single-point release. Attitude Indicator Landing circuit breaker - Open.
010:39:31 Armstrong: [Garble]. Okay. It's Open.
010:39:36 Armstrong: Go ahead.
010:39:38 Scott: Okay. Call Recovery Forces.
010:39:40 Armstrong: Okay. You give them a call; you know their call sign.
010:39:42 Scott: Yes. Okay.
010:39:48 Scott: Hello, Naha Rescue 1, Naha Search 1, Gemini VIII.
010:39:54 Armstrong: Do you have water out there?
010:40:09 Scott: All I see is haze. Oh yes, there's water! It's water'
010:40:11 Armstrong: Okay. Set your altimeter 29.86.
010:40:26 Scott: 29.86. Okay. We're ready to go. Repress - Open.
010:40:27 Scott: Are we down here already?
010:40:29 Armstrong: Yes.
010:40:38 Scott: Let's finish. Water Seal - Down (closed).
010:40:40 Armstrong: Yes. Yaw left.
010:40:41 Armstrong: So we'll have a little turn when we hit.
010:40:43 Scott: Okay. What is your altitude?
010:40:44 Armstrong: 1500 feet.
010:40:45 Scott: [Garble] is on.
010:40:47 Scott: RCS Heater coming off. Scan Heater circuit breaker is open. Computer's off. Platform...
010:40:52 Scott: Rate Gyros are off.
010:40:59 Armstrong: Hello, Naha, Rescue Naha, this is Gemini VIII. In good shape, coming down very fast, 1,000 feet.
1966-03-16, 9:21 pm This is Gemini Control, Houston,'.JJO;Lhoucs, 40 minutes into the flight. As yet, we have received no confirmation of visual contact from the area. However, all ears are cocked for such a message. We estimate that the spacecraft should be on main chute at this time based on the nominal values, based on retrofire maneuver. And, we as I said earlier, estimate splashdown will be 23 minutes after the hour. Meanwhile we've been advised that there are two aircraft in the area now, both the amphibious plane which has swimmers aboard. We also have a C-54 in the area, that has been on station for some time now. The Coastal Sentry Quebec, which is some 12 or 1,300 miles to the southwest has made several attempts to raise the spacecraft by UHF and HF. Let's stand by for any additional information.
Attention - Naha Rescue 1 now says they have the spacecraft in sight. It's three miles dead ahead of them, there's no information whether they have it on the water or still on main chutes, but they do verify they have it in sight. I say again, Naha Rescue 1, which is a C-54 has the spacecraft in sight. It, is overhead. The destroyer Mason right now is approximately 90 miles from that point. We'll come back when we have additional information,
010:41:11 Scott: Okay. I guess we better get ready. Right?
010:41:16 Scott: Okay. Snorkle is up and Closed.
010:41:18 Armstrong: Water seal.
010:41:19 Scott: Water Seal is coming down - Closed.
010:41:23 Armstrong: 100 feet.
010:41:28 Scott: Cabin Repress - Open.
010:41:33 Scott: Want to jettison Chute?
010:41:34 Armstrong: Yes.
010:41:38 Armstrong: Okay.
010:41:47 Armstrong: Okay.
010:41:57 Armstrong: Everything is okay.
010:41:58 Scott: So far so good.
010:41:59 Scott: Landing - Safe.
010:42:00 Armstrong: Safe.
010:42:02 Scott: Cabin Vent - Down (Open). Snorkle- Open.
010:42:03 Armstrong: Got it open. The snorkle. It's open?
010:42:16 Scott: HF whip circuit breaker - Closed.
010:42:33 Armstrong: Power is off.
010:42:45 Scott: That main chute was sort of - make you think again, wouldn't it?
010:42:47 Armstrong: Yes.
010:42:56 Scott: You've done a good job, Boy:
010:42:57 Armstrong: Where is it? In the water somewhere?
010:43:04 Scott: I was never particularly excited about the Navy, but press on!
010:43:09 Scott: Landing - Safe.
010:43:14 Armstrong: Roger Landing - Safe.
010:43:16 Scott: [Garble] 16 seconds.
010:43:17 Armstrong: We update the Landing Bus - Arm?
010:43:21 Scott: Oh, yes.
010:43:22 Armstrong: Okay?
010:43:36 Scott: You want to get it out? Okay. You want to turn HF on? [Garble].
010:43:40 Armstrong: We're off.
010:43:42 Scott: Did yon give them a call? Helmet off and stowed. [Garble] arm restraints stowed, Lap Belt - Release and Stow. Shoulder fittings stowed.
010:43:43 Armstrong: I can't hear you.
010:43:44 Scott: Try it again.
010:43:52 Armstrong: Helmet off and is stowed.
010:43:53 Scott: Want to do that, or you want to wait until this thing clears out a little bit?
010:43:54 Armstrong: Yes, I guess so.
010:44:09 Scott: We're pretty darn close [garble].
010:44:16 Armstrong: We're 5 minutes north - yes, 9 minutes north, 9 miles. [garble].
